Improvement in implements for handling lamp-chimneys



A. H. MERRILL.

Lam p Chimney Holder.

No. 33,170. Patented Aug. 27, 1861.

Invemlor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

A. HQMERRILL, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To A. LL, R. s, AND J. s. MERRILL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN IMPLEMENTS FOR HANDLlNG LAMP-CHIMNEYS To all whom, it may concerni- Be it known that I, A. H. MERRILL, of Bosion, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful device constituting an implement or instrument for handling lamp-chimneys and for placing or removing and adjusting them to or from or on their seat on the lamp; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, is such a full and clear description of my invention as to enable others of suitable skill to make and use the same. i

There are few using lamps of various kinds in which a chimney fitting over the flame is employed who have not experienced the great inconvenience and risk which attends the handling of the chimney. Sometimes there is alittle trouble and delay in fitting the chimney to its place on the lamp after the latter has been lighted, and in putting it on and adj usting it the chimney, which is usually made of thin glass and shaped at its lower end to lie in close proximity to the flame and gradually tapering to a smaller diameter upward, becomes so rapidly and much heated as to make the handling of it by the fingers extremely inconvenient or painful, and if not speedily adjusted it is often necessary to lower or extinguish the flame and give time for the chimney to cool before again attempting to adjust it. The same .or similar objections and inconveniences apply to removing the chimney when the lamp is burning or shortly afterit has been extinguished for the purpose of trimming the wick, replenishing the lamp with oil or fluid, or for other purposes, and in then handling the chimney there is not only.danger of burning the fingers, but also of breaking the chimney by being forced to drop it prematurely, owing to the fingers on first contact not being fully sensible to or of the extreme heat of the chimney. I accordingly have contrived a device or implement which forms a removable handle to the chimney capable of easy gear with and tight but soft grip of it and facilitating the placing and removing or adjusting of the chimney at all times and however hot without risk of burning the fingers or breaking the chimney, all handling of the latter by the fingers being avoided except through the interposition of the aforesaid chimney-handle or chimneygripper forming or provided with a handle.

In the accompanying drawing, which represents a view in perspective of one style or form of iny chimney-handling implement in the act of being applied to the adjustment of a chimney on a lamp, the portion marked A indicates a ring or other shaped frame, made of metal or other suitable material, and of somewhat larger cross-dimensions than the lam p-chimney or lamp-chimneys generally, so as to freely or loosely surround the same when fitted on or over it, as shown in the drawings, and to adapt the instrument to different-sized chimneys. This frame A may be suitably constructed to form the handle, or it may have a branch handle B fitted onto it to facilitate the application of the implement and through is the handling of the chimney in the variou ways or for the dilferent purposes before specified or otherwise.

0 are lower elastic jaws or blades connected with the frame A. These jaws, of which there may be any number, but preferably not less than three, may incline inward at their upper portions or from their junction with the frame, but should incline outward at their lower ends, so as to form a bell-mouth or easy-receiving space to facilitate the slipping of the implement onto and over the chimney D, and to insure at a point or points above the lower ends of said jaws a gradual elastic grip on or of the chimney free from all liability of fracturing the latter when roughly or rapidly applying the implement. Upper jaws or elastic blades E are also shown as provided on the frame A. These upper jaws should be of such thickness or so shaped and arranged as to be less elastic than the lower jaws, or when the implement is fitted onto the lam p-chimney so as to yield with less freedom away from it and preferably to tighten their grip on the chimney when thelatter is lifted by the implement, and in the adj ustment of the chimney to or on its seat to have a tight hold on it. For this purpose or these purposes said upper jaws, which may vary in number, are shown set inclining inward upwardly at a much quicker angle than is the taper form of the chimney, so that in lifting the chimney there will be a partial tendency of the chimney to bend down or inward the upper ends of said jaws or less inclination for them to slip from their grip on the chimney than there is in the case of the lower jaws, and they are furthermore made serrated or forked at their upper ends to give them better bite on the chimney and to insure their firm grasp of it, as before described. By these means or their equivalents the implements may be readily applied to any chimney without risk of fracturing the latter, and be held by the one hand, leaving the other hand at liberty to adjust the spring or other stop, if any be used to secure the chimney to its place; also, the chimney, however hot, may thus be handled Without inconvenience or risk of burningthe fingers or hand and be adjusted round its seat or be lifted on or off with certainty of hold and dispatch. Providing the imple- .A: Witnesses! 'FlFW N Ur a CHATS/3:31? 

